Candid Discussion with the Study Team Proposing to Rename West Java to Tatar Sunda

The discourse on changing the name of West Java Province (Jabar) to Tatar Sunda has entered a new chapter after all factions in the West Java Regional People’s Representative Council (DPRD) gave the ‘green light’ to proceed with the proposal to the next legislative stage on Thursday (2/7). The proposal to change the name of West Java Province to Tatar Sunda was initiated by a number of Sundanese figures, cultural observers, and academics, led by Padjadjaran University (Unpad) Professor Ganjar Kurnia. In an interview with CNNIndonesia.com, Ganjar recounted that the idea was first raised during the Sunda Congress held in Bandung in October 2020 and has since gained momentum, driven by various elements of society. The proposal has now received the attention of the West Java DPRD and will proceed to the public testing phase. Ganjar stated that the name change proposal is an effort to affirm a living space that has deep earthly roots, history, diverse cultures, languages, and a long collective memory. According to him, the proposal to change the province’s name is not solely for people who are biologically of Sundanese descent. On the contrary, the Province of Sunda can be interpreted as the name of a living space that has long existed for anyone who lives, works, creates, and contributes in this region. He explained that West Java is an administrative region name that merely serves as a positional marker. The word ‘barat’ (west) only indicates a compass direction. However, he continued, in reality, there is now a region further west, namely Banten Province. Banten was originally part of West Java Province and separated through regional expansion in October 2000. Ganjar explained that geographical location does not fully explain the territorial roots, spatial history, and the relationship between the people and the land where they live. In contrast, he said, the word ‘Sunda’ carries a much deeper territorial meaning. His team believes ‘Sunda’ is closely related to a geological space that is far older. In earth science, the term Sunda Shelf is known, referring to the Southeast Asian continental shelf that currently encompasses large areas such as Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, and their surroundings. During periods when sea levels were lower, parts of this area were once a vast landmass connecting various large islands in Southeast Asia. ‘We have also long recognised the geographical terms Greater Sunda and Lesser Sunda. The term Sunda has a foundation older than provincial administrative boundaries and is more profound than merely dividing regions based on compass directions,’ he said on Wednesday (8/7). He stated that while ‘West Java’ answers a question about administration, ‘Sunda’ is the answer about the living space of its inhabitants. Therefore, Ganjar continued, the idea of the Province of Sunda needs to be placed within a framework of territorial identity, which is not always synonymous with genealogical identity. ‘Genealogical identity relates to lineage, whereas territorial identity relates to living space, the history of a place, landscapes, local names, and community memory,’ he said. He noted that ‘Sunda’ in a territorial sense is a shared home, not a dividing fence. This also applies to other regional names in Indonesia, such as Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, and Papua, whose inhabitants consist of various ethnic groups. ‘Territorial identity is also considered stronger than cultural identity alone. Culture can change, language can shift, customs can undergo transformation, and arts can change function into mere ceremony. However, a region as a living space has a much longer continuity. Mountains, rivers, rice fields, land, villages, cities, and place names become markers connecting past, present, and future generations,’ he said. By using the name Province of Sunda, the public can be reminded that they live on a space with layers of long history. Citing detikJabar, concerns have been raised by some parties that the proposed name ‘Province of Sunda’ might not represent the diversity of cultural identities in West Java. One such concern comes from cultural groups in the North Coast (Pantura) region of West Java, such as Cirebon and Indramayu. Chairman of Commission I of the West Java DPRD, Rahmat Hidayat Djati, assured that the council will not discuss the proposal unilaterally. All elements of society, including groups with differing views, will be involved in the process of drafting the academic paper and public consultation. According to Rahmat, public involvement is a crucial part of ensuring the proposal has a strong academic foundation and public aspiration before a decision is made. ‘Of course, the DPRD will refine the academic paper, hold public testing in all districts/cities, and possibly conduct a survey with 120 DPRD members,’ he said. Rahmat stated that the discussion process is still long. Following a working meeting between Commission I and the proposing team, the DPRD is currently formulating a discussion scheme that will serve as the basis for the DPRD leadership’s decision. Meanwhile, West Java DPRD Speaker Buky Wibawa clarified that the council’s current position is limited to carrying out its institutional function to receive and discuss public aspirations. ‘The position is that the DPRD agrees to discuss the aspirations conveyed by several figures or elements of society regarding the desire to change the name of West Java Province,’ the Gerindra Party politician said earlier this week, stressing that the proposal has not yet been ‘approved’.